I’ve been thinking a lot about how seven years seems like so long . . . and like it was only yesterday.

When I talked to Kyle this morning, he said I’d missed a call from him (I was unhooking the truck and trailer) just moments after he left the house. Apparently, there was some sort of ceremony taking place at our neighbourhood’s new Heroes Park. Kyle said there were police cars and sixty or so people; traffic being directed manually, etc. He was hoping to tell me, so I could run down there . . . and I would have!

As it was, immediately after unhitching my rig, I chose to remember 9-11 by doing some searching online regarding any ceremonies taking place in New York or Washington. I learned that today was the day the new Memorial site at the Pentagon was dedicated. I went to the television, but could find nothing, so I read everything I could find online. Entering the new memorial, visitors pass under an archway marked with a stone carved: “September 11, 2001–9:37 a.m.,” the exact time of the Pentagon attack. The stone itself bears the scars of that attack—it is a stone recovered from the smouldering, wrecked wall of the building. The architecture of the park is arranged in rows, symbolizing the years in which the victims were born. The surrounding wall doesn’t just keep out the freeway noise—it’s built beginning at a height of three inches and rises to 71 inches—it symbolizes the youngest victim, a three-year-old, and the oldest. The park consists of a bench, a pool of water and a tree, for each of the 184 victims of the terrorist attack on the Pentagon. Each bench bears the name of someone who died there that day. To read the names of those who died within the walls of the Pentagon, you must face the building. To read the names of those who died on American Airlines flight #77, you must stand facing the western sky.

I found some footage of a lone bagpiper walking among the benches as he plays “Amazing Grace.” And I found a couple of nice news reports about the new site. I also learned that at 3:30 p.m., both Obama and McCain gathered with folks at Ground Zero in Manhattan to remember the lost, there. I’m hoping to find some footage of that. We, as Americans need to remember much, much more often, how we pulled together on that day, and think far, far, less of how different we think we are, one from another. That the two candidates joined for this event, today, is heartwarming. Kyle had said he hoped something like that would be done, and I doubted the likelihood. I’m glad I was wrong.

As I drove home this afternoon, I took a quick, impromptu turn in at Heroes Park. I did a U-turn, and parked my truck, immediately across from a no parking sign. (Isn’t that crazy? Where are we supposed to park to visit this little place?) I walked down the marked path, and read the engravings, such as: responsibility, sincerity, dedication, sacrifice. I walked all the way down to the wall bearing the names of Arlington’s fallen in the line of duty. Under each name, is either a Fire or Police Department badge symbol, and the words “Last Call” or “End of Watch” with a date. A beautiful wreath seemed to be perhaps a remnant of this morning’s ceremony. And I picked up a piece of trash and carried it back to my truck. <sigh>

20 February 2008
Marita Beth called while I was still working and asked if I had plans. I did not, so she made plans for herself. She, Ginger & Kelly got together for some girl time. I love the fact that these three girls have this opportunity at the moment to spend so much time together. They’re sisters of different mothers and seem to love each other as much as any family members ever could. So, I got home to a quiet, empty house. I let the dogs out, then went back out myself to marvel at the moon. Braced against the wall of the house, I took a series of Ms. Luna through the gnarled branches of the Black Oaks in the front yard. I like this one best:.
I’d intended to take more photos during the eclipse, but cloud cover settled in and I couldn’t see it, so no photos of that. And, since the moon has been a constant, if somewhat inconsistent, companion through my entire life no matter where I’ve lived; and she’s always been there me to yell at, marvel at, howl at; and she will always be there, I’m using her as my Mini-Challenge entry. The moon is one of my oldest friends and companions.
Cheers.

10 December 2007
Monday, and back at the grind. But, it’s different. This is the holiday season, and since I’m in Operations for an airline, it’s also our high-stress, busy season. It’s no wonder I drink. By the time I got home I was in a foul, foul mood, enhanced, oddly enough, by the rainy, misty cold. Normally I prefer that, but this Monday I didn’t. My wife, who’s honing her empathic skills on a daily basis, figured this out and offered to take me out for food & drinks. On the way to our normal haunt we decided, on a whim, to drive a little further away and go to the Mexican Inn.
I like their Queso Loco and Marita Beth is quite fond of their Enchiladas. We both tolerate their Margaritas, too. We walked in right behind some dear friends, Brett & Jill, and just in front of some other friends, David & Heather (and their brand new baby) who had just come in from Lousiana. They all joined Carl and his new wife (and baby) at a large booth while MB and I took a separate booth. Children give me hives. At some point, Brian joined their larger table, too. We enjoyed a nice, quiet (sans children) dinner and margaritas then went home. I needed that.
Cheers.

3 December 2007
Always the hardest day of the Dickens yearly retreat; it's the day we all say goodbye and go our separate ways. Some of these folks won't be seen again until next Dickens; some just a few days. But, it's always a sad farewell full of much hugging and kissing. This morning as we were doing our pack-out dance, we realised that a critical photo had not been snapped during daylight. My wife took a photo but, it was dark and, sadly, the photo didn't turn out so very well. Since she maintains her posting so religiously we were able to find this out and correct the oversight.
As you look at the photo, in the upper right corner you can just make out a sign hanging in the window. That sign, seen here, is the one that Ginger got for me, Marita Beth had framed and then made a fabulous travelling case for. That travelling case allowed me to bring the sign with me which proudly proclaimed to anyone looking that that room was mine!
Cheers.

8 November 2007
The week in MIA is over and I’ve arrived safely home. Terrill had parked at the airport so he got me back to South Arlington sparing my wife the drive and me the wait. I had originally planned to fly from MIA back to IAH for another weekend at faire, but the MIA trip wrapped up early, if not completely successfully, and we headed back to DFW. On some levels I expect Marita Beth was relieved to not have to drive back to IAH on Friday night; but I suspect she’d have rather had that than me not going to TRF for the weekend. In South Arlington, I retrieved my car from Firestone and headed to get a beer with Terrill & MB at our favourite local, No Frills Grill. After that we headed home for some decompression, but made a much-needed stop at the petrol shop. Here’s the sign above the pump I was using.
Brilliant, eh?
Cheers.

9 September 2007
I went to see a movie on the 9th. I saw Shoot 'em Up, a ridiculously improbable, but infectiously fun action flick. When I left the theatre, I was confronted with this:
The beginnings of a storm that the next day forced the cancellation of 40% of the flights into and out of DFW. Vicious.
Cheers.

2 September 2007 Sunday. More errands to run, this time to Office Depot and various other office/work-related places. In the parking lot of Office Depot, they have these really beautiful trees. I'm not an arborologist or botanist or anything that would even remotely resemble someone who studies or works with trees or plants of any kind. But, I sure can appreciate their beauty. I took several photos, from various angles, I like the way this one turned out best:
I have no idea what type of tree (tall bush) it is, but it shor-nuff is purty.
Cheers.

23 August 2007
This day was done. I was done. Completely shattered and not wishing much in the way of company. I was nearly relieved when Terrill decided not to join me at the bar (that doesn’t happen very frequently). With no company, I decided to go home and spend a quiet evening at the house. I pulled into the driveway, got out of my little Mitshubishi and walked to this massive Black Oak that resides in my front yard. I placed the camera against the bark and shot upward not even bothering to compose. I took four shots that way, moving the camera a little each time to achieve a different view. I like this one:
It sort of composed itself with the ivy moving to a vanishing point that exists at about the spot that the overhead branches diverge. I might very well have even composed the shot that way. On the left hand side there is a fuzzy little blur. That is a web-worm, or tent-caterpillar, or whatever you call those vile little parasites. I killed it.
Cheers.

8 August 2007
As if I couldn’t get enough of airports, off I had to go. Back to DFW on the 8th to get my hands measured. Yeah. New bio-metric measurements required for all badge-carrying employees. Luckily it was pretty quick & easy (unlike my last trip to that office). On the way out, back to my car, I happened to look up as I was crossing the street. The juxtaposition caught my eye and out came the camera.
This is part of Terminal D at DFW. It truly is an excellent terminal with so much on offer, including the beautiful Grand Hyatt Hotel.
Cheers.

~KR (8 August 2007)

Listening to:Song of the Dunadan by Glass Hammer
on Journey Of The Dunadan

26 July 2007
Recently I read somewhere that there are two types of people in the world. There are “Rounders” and there are “Aggregators.” I don’t recall where I read the article, so I can’t give proper credit, sadly; but the concept is so very simple. Everyone has problems, it’s how you deal with those problems that define what type of person you are. If you look at a small problem and say, “nah, that’s a tiny problem, no worries mate,” then you are a “Rounder.” If however, you look at that same problem and say to yourself, “great, just what I need another problem to screw up my life,” then you are definitely an “Aggregator.” I’ve always been an “Aggregator.” My wife is a “Rounder.” I, too, will be a “Rounder” someday, for it seems to me a much happier, healthier way to live. I laid all this out, because she and I had a row (what the hell’s a row?) on the 26th about calories. She mentioned something about caloric intake and I, in typical “Aggregator” fashion, turned it into a much bigger problem than it was. Much bigger. It bothered me all day long that I had reacted to such a simple issue in such an irrational manner. So as I was sitting in a fast-food line on my way home, I took this photo:
…and I thought, “wow, that was a tiny problem and I turned it into something huge. I shouldn’t do that. And I really should watch my caloric intake.” I left the fast-food line and went home where I had a practically tasteless, but low in calories, Healthy Choice meal. Not quite sure why “healthy food” has to equate to “yucky food” but I suppose it does. And since I’d rather be here to celebrate my 50th anniversary with my wife (our 12th is a week from this upcoming Sunday), I suppose “yucky food” is it.
Cheers.